SA~~s support for official status wavering

Centurion: South Africa's support for the unofficial Test against India to be reinstated as an official match appeared to be wavering on Sunday.Percy Sonn, president of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA), said his Board had not yet made a decision over the Test, which has not been sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after both India and South Africa said they would not play the match if Mike Denness was the referee. Denness had caused a furore in India after punishing six Indian players following the second Test. "We are keeping our options open," Sonn said. His comments to journalists during the third days play at Centurion Park contradicted a statement on television on Thursday South Africa would push at the next International Cricket Council (ICC) board meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in March for the match to be given official status. Sonn's apparent change of heart follows comments by South African captain Shaun Pollock, who said his players did not regard the match as a full Test. Pollock said after the first days play on Friday he did not support moves to have the match reinstated as a Test. "I don't think that will happen and I don't think it should. You need to know before the start of the game what it stands for," said Pollock.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:Match referees unnecessary: Atherton 'India should have played under protest'